Tambourine

noun tam-bu-REEN tambʊˈriːn

Also spelled tambourine, tambarine, timbrel

The jingling hand drum — a small frame with metal discs set in the rim — that drives the music of Revival, Pentecostal, and Spiritual Baptist worship in Jamaica. Shaken and struck to a hard, rolling rhythm, the tambourine carries the singing and the 'labouring' in the spirit, and its bright, insistent jingle is one of the defining sounds of Jamaican church. A skilled tambourine player is a valued part of the service.

  • Di sister beat di tambourine hard inna church.

    The sister beats the tambourine hard in church.

  • Tambourine an clapping lead di praise.

    Tambourine and clapping lead the praise.

  • Yuh hear di tambourine from down di road.

    You hear the tambourine from down the road.

From English/French 'tambourine'; the jingling frame drum central to Jamaican church music. See [[revival-table]], [[trumping]].

The jingling frame drum central to Revival/Pentecostal worship. See [[revival-table]], [[mother-of-the-church]].